Coins can be collected in various manners: coins for circulation versus coins for collectors, individual coins versus sets or rolls, circulated coins versus mint state, every date and mint mark versus major types. This Web site presents information to help with assembling a "type" collection of individual circulated British coins.

What is "type" collecting? Type collecting is assembling coins of different designs. A type set generally excludes minor variations that include the same basic design. Examples are date change, and mint marks. Major variations in coin composition (such as a switch from silver to nickel) constitute a type change, but a minor variation (such as copper-tin-zinc to copper-zinc) do not represent a type change.

Different collectors will have their own opinions of what coins should be included in a type collection. The following is my interpretation of significant year-to-year changes in British circulating coins.

The country Great Britain was formed in 1707 with the union of England and Scotland. In 1801, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was formed. In 1927, the name changed slightly to the current United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. These web pages cover circulating coins of the United Kingdom, from 1801. Coins prior to that date may later appear under "Great Britain".

The monetary system of the UK proceeded as follows:

• 1801-1970
  • 4 Farthings = 1 Penny (Pence)
  • 12 Pence = 1 Shilling
  • 2 Shillings = 1 Florin
  • 5 Shillings = 1 Crown
  • 20 Shillings = 1 Pound (Sovereign)
  • 21 Shillings - 1 Guinea
• 1971-
  • 5 Pence (New Pence) = 1 Shilling
  • 25 Pence = 1 Crown
  • 100 Pence = 1 Pound

1 farthing	Starting with 1806-1807
1/2 penny	Starting with 1806-1807
1 penny	Starting with 1806-1807
2 pence	Starting with 1971-1981
3 pence	Starting with 1834-1837
4 pence	Starting with 1836-1837
5 pence	Starting with 1968-1981
6 pence	Starting with 1816-1820
10 pence	Starting with 1968-1981
20 pence	Starting with 1982-1984
25 pence	Starting with 1972
50 pence	Starting with 1969-1981
1 shilling	Starting with 1816-1820
2 shillings	Starting with 1937-1946
5 shillings	Starting with 1953
1 florin	Starting with 1849
Double florin	Starting with 1887-1890
1/2 crown	Starting with 1816-1817
1 crown	Starting with 1818-1820
1/3 guinea	Starting with 1801-1803
1/2 guinea	Starting with 1801-1803
1 guinea	Starting with 1813
1/2 sovereign	Starting with 1817-1820
1 sovereign	Starting with 1817-1820
1 pound	Starting with 1983
2 pounds	Starting with 1823
5 pounds	Starting with 1887

References:
- 1994 Standard Catalog of World Coins, by Chester L. Krause and Clifford Mishler, 1993.
- Standard Catalog of World Coins - 18th Century, by Chester L. Krause and Clifford Mishler, 1997.
- 2007 Standard Catalog of World Coins, by Chester L. Krause and Clifford Mishler, 2006.
- The Guidebook and Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins, 3rd Edition, 1649-1971, by Jerome Remick, Somer James, Anthony Dowle, and Patrick Finn, 1971